You have been called for a 78-year-old female who slipped while getting out of her bathtub. She is confused and cold to the touch. You learn that she slipped 24 hours ago and has been on the tile bathroom floor ever since. Since it is summer, she also had her air conditioner running on high. The EMT would best categorize this emergency as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's confusion and coldness to the touch are indicative of hypothermia. Since she was on the tile floor for 24 hours and the air conditioner was running on high, she likely experienced heat loss through conduction, leading to internal hypothermia. This is further supported by the fact that she is cold to the touch, rather than having localized external hypothermia.

You Have Been Called for a 78-Year-Old Female Who Slipped